Chapter 28

It took them several days to move across the Brown Lands. They were exhausting days, for there was nothing to eat or drink but what was left of their meager rations.
But they were moving fast; they pushed themselves harder than Oropher had pushed them, for every step they took brought them closer to home.
They could smell the scent of the trees in the air. They could hear the voices of the trees whispering on the wind. A large black area had appeared in the horizon, and though it was too far away to be anything but a black field, Legolas eyes had recognized it instantly for what it was.
Greenwood.
Home.

He ran towards Limloeth, who was walking a bit ahead, and touched her lightly before quickly running ahead.

"Tag! You're it!" he shouted.
"Legolas..." Limloeth said, sounding as tired as she could. However, she was pleased her brother could sometimes act like the mere child he was. "Come on... I'm not playing Tag now."
But while she protested she sneaked closer to Lanthir. Close enough to touch him.
"TAG! Lanthir is it!" she yelled, and ran away.
"THAT IS NOT FAIR!" Lanthir shouted as he ran behind his siblings. "Come back! I didn't even know we were playing!" But then his brother stopped and tagged Lainfea.
"You can't tag me," Lainfea said. "I'm in a free-zone, AND I'm standing on one leg."
"There are no free-zones here," Lanthir protested. "And standing one one leg means nothing."
"It means you can't be tagged," Lainfea said matter-of-factly.
"In Osgiliath, maybe, but with elves you can be tagged anywhere."
"No you can't."
"Yes you can."

"Alright," Legolas intervened. "Here are the rules. You can be tagged anywhere, Lainfea, but if you run too far ahead of whoever is 'it', you'll become 'it'. And we can only run in one direction."
Legolas pointed at the dark shape. "That direction. Understood?"
His siblings nodded. "That means Lainfea is it," Lanthir said, satisfied.
Legolas moved closer to Lainfea. "Tag me, tag me," he whispered softly.
Lainfea touched his hand lightly.
Legolas picked up his sister, tagged Lanthir, and quickly ran away.
"Lanthir is it! Everybody watch out for Lanthir!"
"NOT FAIR!" Lanthir yelled. "I DONT WANT TO BE IT!"
Legolas turned and laughed. "Then don't just stand there; do something about it!"

A couple hours later, they all let themselves fall on the floor, exhausted beyond measure.
"Pffft," Limloeth said. "I couldn't care if i'm 'it' forever, I'm not chasing any of you anymore."
Legolas grinned and reached for the waterskin. "I think we all deserve some water," he said smiling. "We have never gone this far in a day, ever." He smiled at Lainfea's red cheeks and bright eyes.
"Are we going to play hide and seek later?" she asked excitedly.
Lanthir laughed. "Where would you hide here?" he said, spreading his arms around, pointing at the emptiness around them.
"Not here..." the elfling said. "Later. When we reach the black spot." She pointed at the horizon.

Legolas smiled as he watched the little child.
"Do you know what that black spot is, Lainfea?" he asked, realizing his sister might not have felt they were looking at their home.
Lainfea nodded. "It's trees," she said. "Lots and lots of trees."
Legolas grinned. "And what do you call lots and lots of trees?"
"Forest?" Lainfea asked, a little insecure.
"Very good," her brother had to agree. "Forest, or Wood. And what colour is the wood?" he asked, trying to give her a hint.
"Black," she answered promptly.
"No... it is green. Green Wood. Do you understand?" Legolas asked happily.
But Lainfea shook her head.
"It's not green," she insisted. "It's black."
The certainty of her voice made Legolas check again.

She was right. The colour of the woods had changed since the last time he had seen them.
During their years in Mordor, Greenwood had turned dark.

Limloeth had seen it as well. "What does that mean?" she asked her older brother.
Legolas shrugged. "I don't know, Lim."
"Do you think there is something wrong with Ada?"
Legolas shook his head. "I don't know..."

He his stomach turned as he thought about that concept. What if there was something wrong with their ada? What if he had died in battle? Or faded? It had been twenty years they had been away, and granted, that was not long for an elf, but long enough for one of these fates to have befallen their father.

He imagined his father sitting in his study, waiting for his troops to return. Waiting for a sign they were still alive. They never had sent such a sign.
They were never able to.

He tried to imagine his father going on without them. Waking up everday in an empty bed, eating breakfast alone . He tried to imagine his father without his mother, but he couldn't. In the visions he had had of returning home, the trees would have invited him. His father would have been standing in the gates, arms wide, waiting.

Now Legolas suddenly realized that that homecoming was only a dream. A fantasy that he had needed in order to keep going. Now that he had actually seen what was left of Greenwood, he realized his father would not be standing in the doorway. They had been gone too long. His father would no longer expect anything, if he was alive at all.

"Why are you all so gloomy all of a sudden?" Lanthir asked. "Lighten up! I found water, not far away, and we will be home soon."
"Home might be changed beyond recognition," Limloeth said sadly.
Legolas' attention was drawn by something completely different. "You found water? Where?"
Lanthir pointed south. "Just there... the land suddenly drops off, and down there is the river again. You know, the great one."

Legolas checked his map and swallowed.

"You say we are close to the river?" he asked.
Lanthir nodded.
"We are too far south," Legolas said, his heart sinking more and more. He stared at the forest again.
Right there he saw it. Amon Lanc. Dol Guldur.

Lainfea had been right. They would be playing hide and seek in the forest -
but they would be playing it with the Necromancer.

Because I'm such a nice person, and it's Valentine's day today,I have decided to post another chappy. A Valentine's chapter to you all! (much better than a card, isn't it?)

Roguish Smile: Well they're not home yet...

Moriarwen: Yes you will hear something about Thranduil's life.. But not much and not yet.

Karone Evertree: Yes poor Orph.. but he had to die. He couldn't stay in Limloeths body forever. I couldn't do that to Thranduil.